Locomotive



.1. G. BLUNT A ril 25, 1939.

LOCOMOTIVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 18, 1958 PIC-3.2."

INVENTQR JZimes GB/w U April 25, 1939. J. G. BLUNT 2,155,926

I LOCOMOTIVE I v Filed April 18, 19:58 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INYENTOR I JZrmes (QB 77- I BY - A NEY Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES LOCOMOTIVE James G. Blunt, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to American Locomotive Company, New York,

N. Y., a corporation Application April 18,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements. in locomotives, and particularly to the cab and to the manner of connecting the cab with the boiler of the locomotive.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 72,042, filed April 1, 1936.

The object of this invention, broadly viewed, is the providing of flexible connecting means disposed at the top part of the locomotive between the cab and boiler.

The before-mentioned application Serial No. 72,042 relates to a streamline locomotive comprising a shroud, and the subject matter of the w present application is especially adapted for use in combination with a streamlining shroud as set forth in said application Serial No. 72,042,

but said subject matter has broader use which is comprised in the present application. In the exemplification shown in application Serial No. 72,042 the boiler and cab are free from each other to the extent that the boiler can expand and contract independently of the cab, that is to say there is permitted longitudinal movement of the boiler relative to the cab.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmental diagrammatic view of the rear end of a boiler and transverse sectional view of a cab, showing one of the flexible connecting devices of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the flexible connecting device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of said device;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified type of locomotive showing a modified type of flexible connecting device; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a fragmental diagrammatic side elevation of the rear end portion of the cab and boiler shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the flexible connect,- ing device here shown, indicated generally by the reference numeral I, is similar to that of the locomotive of the aforesaid application Serial No. 72,042, and is connected to the boiler 2, and to the cab 3 upon the front wall 4 thereof in a similar manner. In this embodiment, as previously stated, the boiler is free from the cab so that it may have longitudinal movement relative thereto. The boiler and cab are secured to the frame of the locomotive (not shown) in any desired manner so as to be independent of each other, the before-mentioned application Serial No. 72,042 illustrating one way of accomplishing of New. York 1938, Serial No. 202,634

types of locomotives may be employed having the characteristic that the boiler and cab are respectively mounted for longitudinal relative movement. 7

Referring to the device I, it comprises a large bracket 5 and a small bracket 6. Each is formed of a plate 1 provided with bolt holes 8 and a pair of outstanding parallel lugs 9. The lugs of the bracket 5 have orifices in which is mounted the pivot bolt I0. The lugs of the bracket 6 have orifices in which is mounted the pivot bolt ll. Links I2, of substantialy Z-shape, are disposed one at each side of the device, having their end portions abreast of the lugs adjacent thereto, and mounted on the adjacent ends of the bolts l0 and H, the end portions being orificed to permit of said mounting, thereby providing a pivotal or hinge connection between the two brackets.

A pair of devices is employed, one at each side of the vertical longitudinal center plane of the locomotive, one device being shown in Fig. 1, and it being understood that the other device is symmetrically disposed at the opposite side of said plane. The device is located within the cab near the top of the locomotive and toward the side thereof, as shown. The large bracket 5 is secured to the flat inner surface of the front wall of the cab by bolts 13 passed through the bolt. holes 8 formed therein, and through said wall. The small bracket 6 is secured to the rounding surface of the boiler by studs l4 passed through the bolt holes 8 formed therein, and into the adjacent wall of said boiler. The plates of the brackets are thus disposed at right angles to each other and the devices at angles best suited to hold the cab against lateral movement or side sway relative to the boiler at the top portion of the cab while permitting the boiler to freely expand and contract longitudinally relative to the cab due to changes in temperature, thepivotal connections of each device permitting this relative movement while the construction of each device is sufiiciently rigid to prevent any harmful sway of the cab. The upper ends of the links l2 should preferably be slightly tilted to the left from the position shown in Fig. 4 when the locomotive is at substantially atmospheric temperature. This permits the swing of the links during expansion of the boiler to be partly at. one side and partly at the other side of the central position of Fig. 4. This causes least tendency of distortion of the parts.

The boiler is free from the front wall of the cab, thisbeing indicated. by; the; snace;a,- .which:

is contrary to usual practice, thereby permitting free expansion and contraction of the boiler.

The order of the brackets may be reversed, if desired, namely the large bracket may be secured to the boiler and the small bracket to the cab. Likewise the bracket secured to the cab may be secured to the outside wall, and likewise the bracket secured to the boiler may be secured thereto at the outside of the cab, thereby disposing the device exteriorly of instead of within the cab.

Referring to Figs. 5 to 7, a difierent type of device is here shown, indicated generally by the reference numeral I5. It comprises a rod I6 having an orificed bifurcated outer end I! pivotally secured by a bolt l8 to a bracket I9 of plate formation, the bracket being provided with an orifice for the bolt I 8. The bracket is disposed between angle iron braces 20 and 2| secured to the inner wall of the cab 3', the bracket being secured to these braces by rivets 22.

The inner end of the rod I6 is bent downwardly at substantially a right angle to the body of the rod providing a branch 23, the inner face of which is disposed abreast of a lug 24 of a bracket 25, the bracket 25. being bolted by means of the studs 26 to the back head of the boiler 2', the branch 23 and lug 24 being provided with aligned orifices for a bolt l8. A similar device is provided at the opposite side of the locomotive. In the present instance the bracket 25 serves as a common bracket for the rods of both devices, in which case the second rod is similarly orificed and. mounted on the common bolt 28' which serves to secure both rods to the common bracket 25. It will be understood however that, if desired, a separate bracket may be employed for each device. Where the bracket 25 serves as the bracket for both devices it is preferably disposed in the vertical longitudinal center plane of the locomotive, as shown in Fig. 5.- If desired the inner ends of the rods l6 may be secured to the cab and the outer ends secured to the boiler. The disposition of the bracket H! as shown provides suffiicient flexibility for the usual amount of relative boiler longitudinal movement. But if greater flexibility is required the end I! may be formed at right angles,

and the bracket l9 andangle irons may be disposed at right angles to their respective positions 5}; shown in Fig. 5.

The locomotive of Figs. 5 to '7 is of a somewhat different type than that shown in Figs. 1 and that is to say a different manner of mounting the cab is presented in order to illustrate the broad application of the present invention.

In the type of locomotive of Figs. 5 to 7 the cab 3' is supported at each of its sides at its forward end by the boiler by means of a bracket 2'! bolted to the boiler by studs 28. The floor of the cab rests upon these brackets in slidable relation therewith to permit longitudinal movement of the boiler relative to the cab floor, and consequently to the cab.

The rear end of the cab is secured to the locomotive frame, fragmentally shown and indicated by the reference numeral 29, by a plate or bracket 30, and the back end of the boiler is connected to the frame 29 by sliding connections 3| of usual construction.

The boiler, as shown in Fig. 5, is, similar to the boiler of Fig. l, and for a similar reason, spaced from the cab, as indicated by the space a. The devices l5 are sufficiently rigid in a direction transversely of the locomotive to prevent the cab 13: front moving laterally. or swaying relative to the boiler, but they are sufficiently flexible in a direction longitudinally of the locomotive to freely permit any relative longitudinal movement between the cab and the boiler, which may occur.

It will be understood that the device I of Fig. 1 may be used with the .type of locomotive of Fig. 5, and likewise the device [5 of Fig. 5 may be used with the type of locomotive of Fig. 1. Also it will be understood that the device l5 may be. employed with other types of locomotives.

The main feature of the invention is that the boiler and cab are connected at their top portions to'permit relative movement therebetween in a longitudinal direction, but to hold the cab substantially rigid in a transverse direction relative to the boiler, the cab front wall being free from the boiler to permit the relative longitudinal movement, and preferably spaced therefrom to permit any slight transverse expansion of the boiler that may occur. By the present invention the boiler and cab are suitably held at their top portions in their respective required positions without the necessity for the rigid connection usually employed between the outer wall of the boiler and the adjacent margin of the front wall of the cab, which rigid connection places undue strains upon the boiler and cab, the strains sometimes resulting in fracturing the connecting means employed.

While there have been hereinbefore described approved embodiments of this invention, it will be understood that many and various changes and modifications in form, arrangement of parts and details of construction thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and that all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims are contemplated as a part of this invention.

The invention claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a locomotive, a main frame; a boiler supported on said main frame for relative movement of its rear portion in a longitudinal direction thereto; a cab adjacent said boiler supported by.

said main frame; and means connected to said boiler and to said cab at their upper portions connecting them together, said means being flexible in a direction longitudinally of said locomotive and substantially nonflexible in a direction transversely of said locomotive whereby said boiler and said cab at said upper portions are free for relative movement in a direction longitudinally of said locomotive but said cab is held substantially rigid against movement relative to said boiler in a direction transversely of said locomotive.

2. In a locomotive, a main frame; a boiler supported on said main frame for relative movement of its rear portion in a longitudinal direction thereto; a cab adjacent said boiler supported by said main frame; a bracket rigidly secured to said boiler at the upper portion thereof; another bracket rigidly secured to said cab at the upperportion thereof; and means connecting said brackets, said means and brackets connecting said boiler and said cab at their said upper portions for relative movement in a direction longitudinally of said locomotive but holding said cab substantially rigid against movement relative to said boiler in a direction transversely of said locomotive.

3. In a locomotive, a main frame; a boiler sup ported on said main frame for relative movement of its rear portion in a longitudinal direction thereto; a cab adjacent said boiler supported by said main frame; a bracket rigidly secured to said boiler at the upper portion thereof; another bracket rigidly secured to said cab at the upper portion thereof; and two links substantially Z-shaped pivotally connected to each of said brackets, said links and brackets connecting said boiler and said cab at their said upper portions for relative movement in a direction longitudinally of said locomotive but holding said cab substantially rigid against movement relative to said boiler in a direction transversely of said locomotive.

4. In a locomotive, a main frame; a boiler supported on said main frame for relative movement of its rear portion in a longitudinal direction thereto; a cab adjacent said boiler supported by said main frame; and a pair of devices disposed at the upper portion of said locomotive, one at each side of the vertical longitudinal central plane of said locomotive, each device comprising a bracket rigidly secured to said boiler, another bracket rigidly secured to said cab, and a pair of links, each of said links being substantially Z-shaped and pivotally connected to each of said brackets, said devices connecting said boiler and said cab at their upper portions for relative movement in a direction longitudinally of said locomotive but holding said cab substantially rigid against movement relative to said boiler in a direction transversely of said locomotive.

5. In a locomotive, a main frame; a boiler supported on said main frame for relative movement of its rear portion in a longitudinal direction thereto; a cab adjacent said boiler supported by said main frame; and means supporting the upper portion of said cab from the upper rear portion of said boiler, formed of a plurality of parts, oertain of said parts being flexible to render said means extensible in a direction longitudinally of said locomotive to permit relative longitudinal movement between said upper portions, and said means being substantially inextensible in a direction transverse to said locomotive to substantially prevent relative transverse movement between said upper portions, said parts comprising tie members extending between said upper portions, and connections securing said tie members to said upper portions.

6. In a locomotive, a main frame; a boiler supported on said main frame for relative movement of its rear portion in a longitudinal direction thereto; a cab adjacent said boiler supported by said main frame; and means supporting the upper portion of said cab from the upper rear portion of said boiler, formed. of a plurality of parts, certain of said parts being flexible to render said means extensible ina direction longitudinally of said locomotive to permit relative longitudinal movement between said upper portions, and said means being substantially inextensible in a direction transverse to said locomotive to substantially prevent relative transverse movement between said upper portions, said parts comprising tie members disposed at each side of said locomotive extending between said upper portions, a bracket disposed adjacent one of said upper portions, two other brackets, one at each side of said first mentioned bracket, adjacent the other of said upper portions, connections securing said brackets to their respective adjacent upper portions, and connections securing said tie members to said brackets.

7. In a locomotive, a main frame; a boiler supported on said main frame for relative movement of its rear portion in a longitudinal direction thereto; a cab adjacent said boiler supported by said main frame; and means supporting the upper portion of said cab from the upper rear portion of said boiler extending transversely of said locomotive, said means being formed of a plurality of parts associated to render said means substantially inextensible in a direction transverse to said locomotive to substantially prevent relative transverse movement between said upper portions, certain of said parts being flexible to render said means extensible in a direction longitudinally of said locomotive to permit relative longitudinal movement between said upper portions, said parts comprising supporting means adjacent one of said upper portions, connections securing said supporting means to said adjacent upper portion, a pair of brackets, disposed one at each side of said supporting means, adjacent the other of said upper portions, connections seeming said brackets to their said adjacent upper portion, tie members disposed at each side of said locomotive extending between said upper portions, and connections securing said tie members to said brackets and to said supporting means.

8. In a locomotive, a main frame; a boiler supported on said main frame for relative movement of its rear portion in a longitudinal direction thereto; a cab adjacent said boiler supported by said main frame; and means supporting the upper portion of said cab from the upper rear portion of said boiler, formed of a plurality of parts, certain of said parts being flexible to render said means extensible in a direction longitudinally of said locomotive to permit relative longitudinal movement between said upper portions, and said means being substantially inextensible in a direction transverse to said locomotive to substantially prevent relative transverse movement between said upper portions, said parts comprising tie members extending between said upper portions, a pair of brackets disposed one at each side of the vertical longitudinal central plane of said locomotive adjacent one of said upper portions, connections securing said brackets to said adjacent upper portion, connections securing said tie members to said brackets, and connections securing 1sfaid tie members to the other of said upper por- 9. In a locomotive, a main frame; a boiler supported on said main frame for relative movement of its rear portion in a longitudinal direction thereto; a cab adjacent said boiler supported by said main frame; and means supporting the upper portion of said cab from the upper rear portion of said boiler, formed of a plurality of parts, certain of said parts being flexible to render said means extensible in a direction longitudinally of said locomotive to permit relative longitudinal movement between said upper portions, and said means being substantially inextensible in a direction transverse to said locomotive to substantially prevent relative transverse movement between said upper portions, said parts comprising tie members extending between said upper portions, a pair of brackets disposed one at each side of the vertical longitudinal central plane of said locomotive adjacent one of said upper portions, another pair of brackets disposed one at each side of said plane adjacent the other of said upper portions, connections securing said brackets to their respective adjacent upper portions, and connections securing said tie members to said brackets.

JAMES G. BLUNT. 

